How do I overcome needle phobia?

1. 71

   Virginia Leaposted 11 years ago

   How do I overcome needle phobia?
   
   I have had this crippling fear of needles for as long as I can remember. And I am entering the Army and I would really like to be a medic if I could just overcome this stupid speed bump that is weighing me down. Most of the time I just avoid the entire situation altogether.
   
   We will have several shots in basic and there will be a lot of stress and tension, all of the stress plus the needles could possibly send me over the edge into multiple panic attacks. I can't have that, not as basic training! I want to be able to handle it and not be pathetic! Please someone help me get over this!

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2. 0

   Catherina Severinposted 11 years ago

   This might help> http://catherinaseverin.hubpages.com/hu … ome-phobia / however, if it is related to a trauma you had at some point in life, even if before you remember consciously you may need to do a regression to get to the point of origin of this fear...

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   1. 71

      Virginia Leaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I'm not entirely sure why I am so fearful of such a silly thing. I suppose I could just go at it head on, but if that happened I would be in danger of a major panic attack and possible syncope. And who knows what will happen while at basic.

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3. 0

   JThomp42posted 11 years ago

   Just pray for God to help you to overcome this. Look the other way when getting injected. The fear of the needle is worse than the experience I'm sure.

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   1. 71

      Virginia Leaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I'm always asking God for his help, I wouldn't be able to live without it. Thanks yes the fear is crippling and no one else understands really...

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4. 87

   nochanceposted 11 years ago

   I don't like needles, but they aren't a major fear of mine, here are some tips I've figured out.
   
   Take deep even breaths and flex your toes (not your fingers because that can mess up the shot). Focusing on flexing your toes takes your mind off the location of the shot. Look the other direction, turn your head directly the other way if you have to. You have to determine whether it is better to close your eyes or focus them on something on the other side of the room. When you feel the needle in your arm say "ouch." Vocalizing the pain is proven to make it hurt less.
   
   I hope this helps. Good luck at basic.

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   1. 71

      Virginia Leaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Wow Thanks so much!

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5. 60

   SteveSpencerposted 11 years ago

   Be around them, buy some at a pharmacy and learn to look at it as innocuous. Then train your mind to never visualize a deep stick, it almost never happens anyway. Needles are generally less than an inch deep. IV's or blood donations the needle may look long because it goes in the vein but it's generally less than a qtr inch deep. So see it for what it is; a small object making a nominal puncture.
   
   That helped my dad, plus I called him a sissy pretty relentlessly to make him give in and get his blood work done. When they told him what all needed to be addressed that the blood test found he began to see the value of the shots.
   
   Oh, one final thought: I was in the Marines. Rarely used needles, they have the thing that blows it in thru the skin. So you might not get as many shots as you are worrying about.

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6. 51

   carolinebpposted 11 years ago

   A fear of needles is very common and you are not alone. About 22% of American adults have needle phobia that interferes with medical treatment. I work for a company that makes a device called Buzzy. Buzzy is a device that combines vibration and an ice pack to confuse nerves and block needle pain. Research has proven Buzzy to reduce needle pain up to 80%. Buzzy has helped a lot of people reduce pain and fear of needles and it sounds like it might be helpful for you.
   Here is our website for more information, http://www.buzzy4shots.com/ and I wish you the very best of luck with all future shots and the Army!

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